Rail joint



May 5, 1931. L. M. SERRA .1,804,230

- RAIL JOINT Filed oci. 18, 195o '2 sheets-sheet 1 A Homey Maly 5, 1931.M. sEr-RA 1,804,280

- RAIL JOINT Filed Oct.v 18. 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zulayz'j Serra f AHarney Patented May 5, 1931 in srarss PATENT orties LUIGI M. SERRA, orROME, vITALY RAIL JOINT Application led October 18, .1930. Serial No.489,638.

No 453,266 filed under date of May 17, 1930.`

The nature of my improvement will be best understood as described inconnection in the drawings in which they are illustrated, and in which:

Figure v1 is a side elevational view of a joint embodying the featuresof the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof. Figure 3 is an elevational viewlooking at. one side of the joint, the joint plate being removed formore ,clearly illustrating the contractable element arranged between thejoint plate and rail ends.

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially onthe line 4 4 of` Figure 3. n Figure5 is a perspectiveview ofthecontractable member forming a partof the invention."

Figure 6 is a perspective View of one of Vthe joint plates.

Figure 7 is a similar view of the other of the joint plates.

With reference more in detail to the drawings, it will be seen that therail heads are shown at 1, the 'rail webs at 2, and the rail baseflanges at 3.

The ends of the rails to be spliced, rest on a bridge or reinforcingplate 4, the same being of the identical construction shown, anddescribed in detail in my above identi- 4@ fied co-pending application,and as herein shown, the bridge plate 4 is supported between two railties 5 and suitably retained in position thereon through the medium ofspikes 6. The bridge plate 4 has depending from an intermediate portionthereof a strengthening rib 4 said rib 4 tapering toward its lower end.In cross section plate 4 and strengthening rib 4 resemble an invertedrail as suggested in Figure 4.

The joint plates are indicated by the reference characters 7 and 7respectively. These joint plates span directly across the abutting endsof the rails, each including a thickened body portion 8 extendingparallel to the abutting ends of the rails, and said body portion at thelower end of the joint plate being provided with a longitudinallyextending socket or groove 9 adapted to receive therein correspondingedge portions of l the rail base flange 3 and bridge plate 4 as 60suggested in Figure 4.

Above its groove or socket 9 the joint plate 7 is provided in thethickened portion 8 thereof with a pair of spaced transverse boltaccommodating holes 10 the bores of 65 which are non-threaded.

The joint plate 7 above its channel 9 has its thickened portion 8provided with a pair of spaced threaded sockets 11 for alinement withthe bores 10. Bolts 12 have their 70 Shanks for the major length thereofsmooth, and yat their free ends the Shanks of the bolts are reduced andprovided with screw threads 13. The bolts 12 have their shanks passedthrough bolt accommodating holes 10, through longitudinal slots 14provided therefor in the webs 2 of the rails at the abutting ends of therails, and the threaded ends 13 of thebolts are threadedly engaged withthe sockets 11, so that upon tightening ofthe Abolts the joint plateswill be moved inwardly toward one another to securely re-l tain the railends in joined relation with the bridge plate 4.

The heads of the bolts 12 on opposite sides 85 of said heads areflattened to provide fiattened faces 15, and the joint of plate 7 at itsthickened portion 8 and on the outer face thereof is provided with anintegral longitudinally extending vrib 16. Thus it will be seen thatwhen the bolts 12 have been threaded into the sockets 11 a suiiicientdistance, and the bolts so rotated as to have the Hattened faces thereofparallel to the rib 16, joint plate 17 will be forced slightly 9outwardly upon expansion of the spring tube 19 so that the rib 16 willoverlie the upper flat faces 15 and engage therewith for retaining thebolts against casual rotation.

Each of the joint plates 7 and 7 has its thickened portion 8 taperingvertically to terminate at the upper portion of the plate in alongitudinally extending flange 17 forming on the inner side of theplate adjacent the upper edge of the plate a longitudinally extendingsupporting shoulder 18.

As shown in the drawings, the spring tube 19 that is splitlongitudinally as at 20 is supported between the webs 2 of the rails,and the joint plate 7 and is supported through the medium of theshoulder 18 as suggested in Figure 1. It will be noted that the springtube 19 spans directly across the abutting ends of the rails.

From the foregoing then it will be apparent that the bolts 12 engagingthe sockets 13 secure the joint plates in operative position withrespect to the abutting rail ends with the corresponding edge portionsof the base flanges 3 and bridge plate l received within the grooves 9of the oint plate thus securing the rails against movement relative tothe bridge plate 4 and the member s 19 will providethe necessary tensionfor rel taining the rib 16 in engagement with the heads 15 to insure alocking of all the parts in the position suggested in Figure 1 and theparts are thus held against casual relative movement as may be caused bywear, vibration and the like.

Even though I have herein shown and described the preferred embodimentof the invention, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible offurther changes, variations,

modifications and improvements coming within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is: l

1, A rail joint comprising in combination a joint plate adapted to bedisposed parallel to the rail webs and spanning directly across theabutting ends of the rails, bolts passing through the joint plate andthe rail webs, an expansible and contractable tubular member interposedbetween said joint plate and the webs of the rails and spanning directlyacross the abutting ends of the rails, and said joint plate and boltsprovided with cooperating means for retaining the bolts against casualrotation.

2. A rail joint comprising in combination a bridge plate adapted to liebeneath the abutted rail ends and to be supported and secured at eachend on adjacent ties, a pair of joint plates respectively provided witha longitudinally extending channel adapted to receive thereincorresponding edge portions of the rail base flanges and said bridgeplate, one of said joint plates provided with a plurality of threadedsockets, bolts passing through the other of said joint plates, the railwebs, and having threaded ends threadedly engaging said sockets, and anexpansible member interposed between the rail websA and the lastreferred to joint plates and spanning directly across the abutted endsof said rail.

3. A rail joint comprising in combination a pair of joint platesspanning directly across the abutted ends of the rails, one of saidjoint plates provided with a plurality of bolt accommodating holes, theother of said joint plates provided with a corresponding number ofthreaded bolt accommodating. sockets, bolts extending through said boltholes, the rail webs, and having threaded end portions threadedlyengaging said bolt accommodating sockets, said bolts including headshaving flattened faces and said first mentioned joint plates providedwith an integral rib engageable with the heads of said bolts, and an eXansible and contractable member interpose between the.

rail webs and one of said joint plates and acting oppositely on therails and said joint plates. l'

1. A rail joint comprising in combination a pair of joint platesyspanning 'l directly across the abut-ted ends of the rails, one 0f saidjoint plates provided with a plurality of bolt accommodating holes, theother of said joint plates provided with a corresponding number ofthreaded bolt accommoda-ting sockets, bolts extending through said boltholes, the rail webs, and having threaded end portions threadedlynenaging said bolt accommodating sockets, sai bolts including heads havingiiattened faces vand said first mentioned joint plate provided with anintegral rib engageable with the heads of said bolts, and a tubularresilient member interposed between the rail '.Webs and one of saidjoint plates, said tubular member being split longitudinally. i

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature.

LUIGI M. SERRA;

